Hello, darlings...

Long time, no chapters. I know, I'm sorry. However I've had a wave of inspiration for this story AND its sequel so hopefully if you guys are along for the ride, we can really get this story going!

I haven't forgotten TPoL, for inquiring minds. Those chapters just take far longer because of the length and level of involvement. TPoL is close to my heart, but it is just so dang complicated…

I took some direct lines from The Originals, episode 3x05. They are not mine in the least, but they fit perfectly into my story!

In going back over the previous chapters, I realised that I had not been as consistent with some things, so I fixed it. In the flashbacks, Belle's accent will be strongest. And in moments when she is angry or sarcastic (basically this whole chapter) then it'll come back very strongly. The angrier, the stronger! That is why you might even see in the same little paragraph her accent/the spelling change. Hope that makes sense!

Anyway, that's all from me. I hope you like this rather long chapter! The next one has already been started and I hope to have it out soon! See you down below...

Chapter 5 - You Did Not Break Me

1917, New Orleans.

Belle looked at herself in the mirror as she painted her lips with colour, readying herself to meet with the Mikaelsons. Their relationship had been strained at best, with Rebekah still actively trying to kill her for spelling Marcellus to go to war… of course, when she revealed to Klaus what he had been planning, and that he had been trying to find Mikael, his greed growing, he'd not minded so much…

It gave her hope that her plan for today would work.

"Belle? There is breakfast…"

"Merci," she thanked her through the door, standing and opening it to reveal the landlady, who had become a close friend when she revealed her connection to Kol. She tried not to remember the detail that the two knew each other from a few centuries ago, or marvel at the fact that the young witch was still so young in appearance… "But I am ahfraid I will not be staying today… I must go."

A simple nod was the response she received and she watched the woman go, the pleasant smile on her lips dropping as she sighed quietly. The twenty-one year old witch closed the door behind herself, locking the door quickly before making her way down into the street and then onward to Bourbon Street.

Things had changed in the past near three years since… that night.

Kol had planned to change her after her nineteenth birthday in 1915 but, with him gone, that plan was as well. To compensate, she took to the books her mate had sometimes used to teach her with, gleaning every word from every grimoire before she finally discovered a way in which to keep her youthful appearance, with the added help of her landlady who used the same herbs. Even if she would no longer match her mate's age when eventually turned, she wanted to look as though she did…

The easier solution would have been to get another vampire to turn her, but Klaus seemed to have taken care of that. She was furious when she found out that he'd sent word to every vampire in the quarter that any of her pleas were to be ignored, with the consequence of death should his order be defied. She'd almost levelled the city in her rage, once more trying and failing to kill Rebekah…

Not long after, Marcellus signed up for the war and left…

She would always remember that day with glee.

Of course, when her mother had eventually discovered her spell work, and then the true reason for it, she had thrown her out onto the streets. She had caused her family great shame through giving in to the connection she felt to her mate, she was told. But it wasn't such a bad thing to no longer live with the woman. Their relationship soured the moment that Renée had dared to suggest that Kol had had her spelled to love him, that he had manipulated her…

Arriving on the corner, she took a steadying breath to calm her nerves and any other emotions her thoughts had stirred. Focusing on the Abattoir, she could feel her mate's presence down below the building and smiled to herself, even as the guilt she always felt rose. She never visited him; it was too painful for her…

"Mademoiselle…"

She turned her head to see a vampire standing and, by the look on his face, it was obvious that he was one of the newest additions to Klaus's little vampire guard.

"Iz Niklaus 'ere?"

A nod.

"Take me to 'im."

"He said he was not to be disturbed."

She gave a pleasant smile. "I do not care. Take me… to 'im…" she murmured, her hand curling into a fist at her stomach just as the first cry left his mouth. She didn't look up as she heard a whoosh and then that voice full of such bravado it made her skin crawl.

"Belle! There is no need for that, sweetheart…"

She stopped, glaring up at him, but she said nothing as she ascended the stairs. She turned her head and ducked away as he tried to kiss her cheek in greeting, walking past him into his office, where she found the Mayor and Elijah waiting.

"Give me 'is body," she said as soon as Klaus had closed the door.

His eyebrow rose, and he glanced at his brother, Elijah, who said nothing, not meeting his gaze. He smirked at her, taking Belle's lead in ignoring the Mayor's presence in the room. "No, I think not. I think the time away will do him some good, teach him a lesson."

Her jaw locked. "It 'as been four years. Iz zat not long enouv for you to keep us from one anozzer?"

Staring at her a moment, his lips spread slightly into a smirk. "No…"

Her brown eyes flattened, her nostrils flaring, and both Originals could feel the magic in the air thicken. With a glance, Elijah was guiding the Mayor out with quiet apologies as he planned to reschedule the meeting. Taking a breath to steady herself it was once they were alone that Belle replied, "Why? Because 'e dared to try to make a life for uz wizzout you posing a sreat?"

She could tell that she had offended him in some way, his tone harder, voice louder when he responded. "I have never been a threat to the both of you. I recall welcoming you into the family with open arms and a feast…"

"Oui! You did… but zat was zen, and zis iz now… and you are a sreat now… You daggered my mate. You stole 'im and our future from me…"

"He betrayed me!"

A harsh laugh barked from her lips. "'e wanted to get away from you! Away from your lies, your manipulations, your control! From zat dagger! 'e wanted to be wis me!" she whimpered, tears stinging her eyes before she took another moment to calm herself, her voice darker when she finally continued. "But you could not bear to see your siblings 'appy when you are so mizerable yourse—"

She was cut off as his hand closed around her throat, her body slammed against the wall. Her face grew red and she weakened rapidly, her fear making her eyes wide as she struggled against him, the black and red of his eyes, the dark veins on his cheeks, the fangs…

With all her will, she lifted her hand, closing it into a fist, but just when the aneurysm would have begun, he released his hold on her, turning from her as he panted and snarled, hands in fists as he calmed himself down. He looked back over his shoulder at her as she wheezed for breath, the door opening as a vampire entered. She heard it when he spoke this time, telling them to get her a glass of water, and she lay on her side, her eyes closed as the fear and recovery made her dizzy.

"If you were not family …" he snarled, and she blinked up at him, swallowing thickly and removing her gaze. "If you were anyone else…" She flinched as the door slammed shut upon his exit.

Slowly, she moved her gaze to the brother that she had not seen rejoin them, and he only looked at her when he could not resist the ice of her cold stare any longer. The look in his eyes melted that ice, turning it to liquid fury.

"You should leave, Belle," Elijah advised quietly, his voice laced with something that caused her fingers to twitch.

She sneered at him but lifted herself from the floor anyway, gripping the closest thing to her in her weakness. Feeling his gaze on her still, she whipped her head around to look at him, waiting.

"I—"

"Wat?" she spat, voice hoarse from her ordeal. "Do not tell me one of my mate's murderers is sorry!" She watched as he took a breath then tried to come close to her but she backed away. "Do not! You disgust me! You and ze rest of zis 'orrible family…" Spitting at his shoes, she glared at him, his image made unclear by the watery film of her tears and she breathed in then turned and stormed out of the door.

She was thankful she was able to make it to the street before the first sob broke from her throat. She was damned if she would let them see how they had broken her.

2011, Mystic Falls.

Her fingers traced the length of thick parchment as she read the words written there in old ink. With an attentive ear, she reached the end and gingerly turned the page, brow furrowed as she took in the description of the spell and the image below of the ritual layout. It wasn't until she reached the end of the page that she realized why this was yet another spell to add to the list of others that would not work.

Sighing harshly, she snapped the book shut and threw it down on the table just as the shouts began.

Eyes tightening, she looked to the door, hesitating… but the low whimper of pain that met her ears was something she could not ignore. She stood and followed the noise out of the room and down the hall, pausing in front of Klaus's bedroom door.

She knew the reaction that she would garner in doing this, but she could not help herself. She had, as she always did when they lived together in close quarters, made useless the soundproofing spells Klaus always had installed upon his personal rooms. She knew that he took great (misplaced) shame in the nightmares that terrorized him, but she was here and she wanted to help. A lot had changed in one hundred years, but she understood him more now than she had then and if no other would brave his temper enough to fight through that shame to give him the comfort he needed, she would.

Belle opened the door and passed through.

The nightmares had been expected. When she had informed him that Mikael had been released from his prison, she was watchful enough to see the split second of terror that flickered in his eyes, the old emotions he would identify as weakness clear as day. It was part of the reason why she was up so late in the middle of the night, poring over grimoire after grimoire, set on finding the location spell powerful enough to break through any cloaking and protection spells Mikael had already gotten. His stepfather's abuse still haunted him, it was clear to her, dictating his every move and every word, the reason for his strained relationship with his siblings, and the insecurities that caused him to try to control them. It was not right, not in the least, and her anger had not left her, but it was now mingled with a sad understanding and the hope that if the Mikaelson siblings repaired their relationships, things would be better. It was clear to her that all he wanted was his family, a loving family that he could be sure would not leave him… nor ostracize him one day due to his different parentage. Perhaps if they could get through to him, he would stop his terrorizing.

After a thousand years, something had to give.

Most days, she ceased to believe it was possible. She would firmly believe he was the cold hearted bastard he wanted everyone to see him as. But it was now, at times like this, where he was asleep and his face was screwed up with pain or fear as his demons caught up with him that she saw the real him.

The tortured boy who only wanted love and approval but felt asking for such was weak and thus constantly went back and forth between forcing his siblings into staying with him and rebuffing them entirely to protect himself, to prove that he was not weak and he did not need anyone.

Sometimes, Belle wished Niklaus would talk to someone. But since she knew that would never happen, she at the very least wished he would find his mate. Love did not take away the scars of one's life nor mend the broken pieces, but it did help to soothe those scars and rough edges as well as the beast within and that calm might just be enough to change his approach to things. This person would be able to show him that he could trust, and that it was not weak to do so. At the very least he would have someone who would support him… if they did not just make him worse.

Another shout, and she had to refrain from continuing down that line of thought so she could attend to her brother, flashing to his side. She did not touch him, knowing from experience that he was a light enough sleeper that he would register the touch, wake, and attack without thought. He'd quickly apologised and retrieved blood bags for her in order for her to recover as fast as possible, but still—that was not something she wished to experience ever again.

"Niklaus," she said, her voice clear and loud, a sound she knew would snap through his dream easily. It did just as she thought it would and the cries lessened, his body laxing against the pillows as she stood and backed away. With only one more call of his name, softer this time, his eyes opened and she watched as he looked around the room anxiously before pausing on her form, jaw locking, a dark look that she knew well crossing his face as he realized what had happened.

She looked away as he tried to regain composure, not wanting to trigger him further than her mere presence in the room did. When he sighed and spoke, voice thick with sleep, she glanced back.

"What are you planning tomorrow?"

Belle was not surprised that there was no mention of what had happened. She had tried that before, too, to speak to him about the nightmare or what she had witnessed, but he'd only lashed out. Thus, without batting an eyelash, she gave him a small smile and answered the question, growing more frustrated as she explained the difficulties she was encountering.

"I need to restock my ingredients as well as find some for the spell… which I am 'aving much trouble in finding, I will let you know… none of the journals I 'ave read of Kol's 'ave told me anysing new, or told me where I can even find somesing as powerful as we need… simple spells 'ave not worked…"

The lack of response caused her to look at him once more and she raised an eyebrow at the look in his eyes as he stared at her before breaking the gaze and shaking his head. "You're not going anywhere."

Hackles raising and eyes narrowing at the order in his tone, she huffed incredulously, removing her gaze as he got out of bed. "I believe you cannot tell me wat to do, Niklaus… if I wish to leave, you cannot stop me."

The snarl and the thump of his fists meeting the armoire harshly caused her lips to purse. She bit the inside of her cheek as he continued. "Belle… we already discussed this. Until he is dead, you are not to leave these walls."

"I—"

"I vowed I would keep you safe until it is time for Kol to return to do so instead—"

A growl left her, her arms flying around her in show of her exasperation. "I am not some petite fille you cannot protect 'erself!"

"—and I will allow no one, not even you, to stop me from doing that. When you find the spell, I will collect whatever you need for you."

"But I cannot die-you made sure of zis-"

He gave her no room to explain her reasonings for being the one to go—which she felt were quite sound. She was the witch after all, and she knew what she was doing and looking for. He could easily get the wrong thing and that would only cause them to lose time they did not have.

Instead, he spoke over her.

"Besides, you said you haven't found the spell so there's no reason to leave. There are still some grimoires you have not checked. I suggest you do that instead."

He was in no way suggesting anything and that was crystal clear to the hybrid who glared at him, baring her fangs, before she flashed from the room, slamming the door, ranting under her breath because how was she supposed to find Mikael—let alone cast any spell Niklaus might demand of her—if she did not have enough of the ingredients needed?

Leaving the way she did meant she was not there to see the way his tense and falsely-confident façade deflated, his eyes haunted as he stared back at his sweat soaked sheets. No. No, Belle was not going anywhere until Mikael was located and taken care of, and locating him could easily be done with the grimoires at her disposal and the many spells in her arsenal. When time came for the collection of ingredients, he would be the one to go.

In the meantime, whilst she researched, he would prepare himself for what was to come. It had been just under a century since the last time he'd had an encounter with his step-father. This time he had the means to kill him permanently and he would not hesitate in doing so, no matter what the man said. His tormentor would die by his hands. He would trust no other with this task, not even Belle.

This was his task, a task that had rested upon his shoulders for a thousand years.

His anticipation mixed with his fear and determination.

Finally, he could show Mikael that he was not what he said he was. He was not weak, and he had not been broken. He could never be broken. He was the Original Hybrid; the most powerful being on earth, and immortal to boot. He would shove Mikael's mortality right in his face and live on whilst he withered on the other side, his legend overtaken by the legend of his death and the name of the one who had vanquished him.

It didn't matter what Mikael said. If he let them, his words would cut deep like a sharp knife-like the sword he could still vividly recall the feel of as though it was still buried in his shoulder, pinning him to that bloody tree. But he wouldn't let them. He wouldn't. He was strong. He was no longer the little boy desperate for his father's love and ready to do anything to prove himself.

Those thoughts and more swirled in his head as he changed the sweat-soaked sheets, showered, and then slipped into bed, finding it harder to get to sleep as each and every shadow formed a face he did not want to see…

Belle only went to sleep when she could hear Klaus sleeping peacefully down the hall and the words on the page of the grimoire she was studying ran together, becoming incomprehensible. Tomorrow, she would wake early and get out of this mansion one way or another.

To hell with what the merde up the hall said.

Tibet, China.

The brunet's teeth were gritted as he looked around the stone room. As it was a secluded monastery, news of the massacre had not reached anyone's ears. Even then, there was no one left alive to contact him, which had probably been her purpose in the first place.

And thus, without the warning, it had been quite a shock to arrive and find that the person he was looking for was missing. The room, already in chaos, was the victim of his anger and concern and he stared at his destruction now, deep in thought. Hearing someone enter in a whoosh, he glanced up and pressed his lips together at the sight of the dark skinned woman leaning against the wall. Just the carefully-but not carefully enough-concealed look of "I knew it" on her face caused him to growl under his breath.

"You should have listened to her when you visited her last time. You should have known this was going to happen."

"She said she would try to be better."

"That was because you were leaving her. Which, in all honesty, probably only made it worse."

He swallowed. "I was going to come back for her."

The woman simply tilted her head and raised an eyebrow. "Did she know that?"

He bared his teeth. "I don't need this. We have no idea where-"

"We have every idea. Your sister is smart. I am sure she knows of our plans if she's broken out of here with such pomp and ceremony."

His growl didn't stop her.

She rose from her graceful slouch against the wall and turned on her heel, walking through the archway. She cast a look over her shoulder at the dead bodies within the room, nose scrunching delicately at the smell. "We should leave. They're dead by a few days at least, which means she has a head start. I'll meet you back at the car. We fly to Paris tonight."

Mystic Falls.

Several hours later, a colourful sunrise washed over the landscape of Mystic Falls, bathing it in a beautiful glow.

Belle was already awake, listening carefully to the steady breathing down the hall. She'd originally thought to leave when she woke but she knew if she did that Niklaus would know sooner. If she waited for him to leave their home, she could simply leave after him and he would be none the wiser.

Besides, it would not hurt to peruse the grimoires for a little while longer… perhaps then when she left to restock her supplies (and spend some time surrounded by nature, the very thing the witchy side of her still adored and craved), she would also be able to get whatever ingredients were specific to the spell she would be performing.

Nonchalantly greeting Niklaus a half hour later when he came to say good morning (check she was still there), she read through the spellbook, getting impatient the longer it took for Klaus to find a reason to leave so that she could do the same. Sighing and rubbing at her temples as she finished that grimoire, she opened another and set to work, her attention half taken by Klaus as he moseyed around in his studio, the sound of his paintbrush meeting canvas setting her on edge. Was this truly the one day that he would keep to himself and not leave the mansion since they'd arrived in this awful town?

As the hours ticked by, that certainly seemed to be the case. However, as luck would have it, just past one PM, she heard his phone chirp. Hearing him pause and then obviously look at the message if the silence was any indication, the frustrated-but defeated-sigh made her smirk.

The look was gone from her face by the time he'd whooshed to her room and opened the door, replaced with mild but expectant curiosity.

"Wat?" she asked, setting the grimoire down on the centre table in front of her and leaning over the cold stone to look at him, not hiding her amusement as he explained that Caroline-the girl that Belle knew was the focus of somewhat of a little crush (nay, infatuation)-had requested his assistance in locating Stefan. "Your petite girlfriend requested your 'elp to find anozzer man?"

A growl rose in his throat as he sent her a glare. "If we find Stefan, Damon will not kill you. So it is in your best interests that I help."

Belle made a sound of amusement. "Wat would I do wizzout you?" she asked dryly before her lips quirked and she rounded the table, leaning against it, head tilted as she smirked and raised an eyebrow. "And ze two of you working so close? Zat is necessary as well?"

Klaus ignored her ribbing. "I'll be gone a little while. I'm meeting her at the Mystic Grill."

Jumping at the chance to leave, she followed after him as he turned and made his way out into the hallway, feeling that perhaps if their attention would be on finding Stefan, someone she herself was protecting behind Klaus's back, then she should accompany him and do what she could to lead them away from his trail. "You do not want me to come with you? I would be the best candidate for a witch, non?"

He scoffed. "Your little spectacle the other day-though understandable," he amended at her harsh glare, "did cause a few problems, sweetheart… namely, Damon calling for your head on a spike. And whilst this temporary alliance does come with the condition that you get to keep your head, it is, nonetheless, best to keep you out of his sight." He smirked. "His ego is still a little fragile."

She smirked at that.

"Besides, you have work to do…" he reminded her, raising an eyebrow as he looked pointedly back through the open door of the room they'd both just left, to the numerous grimoires that lay open all over the table in the centre of the room.

Rolling her eyes and straightening, she, too, directed her gaze back to the grimoires before flashing inside and picking the one she wasn't finished with up. "Fine. Aller," she dismissed him with a wave of her hand and raised chin, looking down her nose at the grimoire rather than watching as he disappeared out the front door of their home, his phone in hand as he texted the little blonde girl.

She stretched out her hearing to follow him as he went, listening to him drive away in his car as far as she could until she could hear him no more. Lingering just in case this was some sort of trap of his to make sure she abided by his instructions to stay home, she continued to read the next few relevant spells, hoping that luck would be on her side and she would find the spell she needed to break through any cloaking spells and then locate her father in law.

And though it wasn't-not entirely-the spell that she last read through in the grimoire did point her in the proper direction and she set that grimoire down, flashing to the bookcase and reaching for a very specific tome that she rarely looked to, cursing herself for not doing so before.

Nik didn't actually know, but Kol had copied their mother's grimoire word for word centuries back. Originally, he'd done so in the hopes of finding a way to undo the catastrophic magic that had made him something that he hated, something that took from him everything that he loved. But as he came to accept-and bask in-his immortality and all the perks that came with vampirism, his reasons for keeping said copy of the Original Witch's grimoire turned more to studying her ways and learning from them so that he could write his own spells.

And, naturally, when he found his mate, this was one of the first grimoires he'd introduced her to. She'd not had the power and restraint needed to perform some of the trickier spellwork within it, but he'd made it clear that if she hoped to achieve greatness with her magic, then this was one of the cornerstone grimoires to work from. Indeed, the first time she was able to do a more complicated spell of his mother's, Kol had spun her around the room before setting her down on the table to have his way with her.

For now, she pushed back that memory as she flipped through the pages, dimly remembering the session they'd spent discussing the spells that Esther had developed for tracking. It was not the time for distraction, which was the only reason she suppressed any emotions that would cause her to lose focus as she finally reached the page with a satisfied smirk. Her finger traced down the list of ingredients before she grabbed a basket, placing the grimoire down in it and leaving the mansion for the woods around her, basking in the high of her breakthrough.

So much so, in fact, that she was unaware of the vampire following her until it was too late.

Just shy of an hour later, she was checking the list in the basket for the last item she had yet to collect. Humming softly to herself, enjoying her time with nature, she continued on her way, checking the time and her phone for any texts or calls she might have missed from Niklaus. There weren't any, which was relieving as it was concerning, and she sped up as she ventured deeper into the woods, on her way to the falls that had given the town its name. Whilst any water could be used for the spell, Kol had told her there was far more chance of success against stronger magic when the water was fresh and straight from the source.

Mindful of how long she had already taken, she whooshed through the woods to the sound of rushing water, crouching on her haunches, the basket placed down at her side. She didn't hear the vampire slowly stepping closer to her as she took out the steel thermos and filled it to the brim.

"What are you doing living with my Nik?"

A gasp of "merde" and the splash of the thermos falling into the stream as she wrenched her head around to look at the newcomer denoted her surprise. Hand flying to her talisman, she rose in a blur, but there was no chance for her to do anything else as she heard a whoosh, saw a blur… and was suddenly airborne.

With a cry, the breath was ripped from her lungs as she crashed into a tree, her hand reaching for her necklace, but the woman-a redhead, she saw-was there before she could so much as lift her other hand or utter a spell to defend herself, lifting her up against the tree by the neck.

Abandoning all other efforts and reaching for her neck as well, she tried to pry the vampire's hand away from her throat, to fight her off. She was startled by the strength that the female possessed, so close to that of an Original's. She couldn't even answer the question, the grip was so tight, she could feel her brain crying for oxygen, her lungs burning, her limbs growing weak. It was one of the rare times that she felt true fear, the gleam in the redhead's eyes unsettling. Though of course it would not kill her to pass out, anything could happen whilst she was unconscious and vulnerable, and she was starting to curse her own stupidity for not simply listening to Nik in the first place and staying home…

Just as she was about to pass out, she was thrown back into the tree, the threat stepping back and seemingly sizing her up, critiquing her.

"Are you not going to answer my question?" the vampire demanded of her, watching Belle as she struggled to breathe, her bruised neck and vocal chords rapidly healing. But apparently, not quickly enough as the british accent sounded again, enraged. "I want to know who you are and why you are living with Niklaus!"

Then she was being moved again. Under a firm hand, she was thrown down like a ragdoll onto the forest floor. Her back was aching but that pain was nothing compared to her fear and the burning of her lungs as she was submerged in water, inhaling liquid, instinctively coughing to get it back up but there was no relief. She was like a worm trying to wriggle free from a bird's claw.

She couldn't see the face of the woman holding her down, didn't see the way that the redhead smiled as Belle's struggles slowed, as though the hybrid's slow, painful (temporary) death was warranted, as though it was deserved. The assailant's wide green eyes were riveted to the writhing form she was holding down, taking great delight in the death of the woman who lived with Nik… a threat to their love…

Just as Belle's struggles finally ceased and she lay dead under the water, she heard it-a voice that she had not heard for nearly a thousand years. Her eyes closed, the brilliant smile spreading wider across her lips, marred only by the guarded disbelief that seemed to color Klaus's tone.

"Aurora…"

The redheaded vampire's entire persona abruptly changed. She rose, turning around and eyeing the man in front of her with such adoration and longing, nothing like the manic killing machine she had been seconds ago. She didn't seem to realize that he was not sharing in her obvious joy as she stepped toward him, intoxicated by his presence, needing closer…

"My sweet love… it has been too lo-"

A snarl ripped through the air, cutting her off, and then she was the one being manhandled, forced against the very tree she had thrown Belle against, staring into the eyes of the man that she had longed for since the day she had been forced to break his heart.

Her happiness at their closeness was not shared by Klaus, who stared at the woman in front of him in confusion and surprise. But it was clear to see why she might think her happiness was reciprocated; unfortunate memories, the pleasant ones-ones he'd not allowed himself to think of in one thousand years-were flooding back, making it impossible for him to act. He knew that Belle lay dead, her top half submerged, and that Aurora was the reason, but that was just… not enough in the face of the first woman who had loved him just as much as he had loved her.

Until she hadn't.

And that was the thought that snapped him back to reality. His jaw locked, the mixed emotion settling on coldness and anger as he demanded to know:

"What are you doing here?"

The answer was easy. "I am here for you."

Nostrils flaring, he stepped away from his ex, letting her go. "You made a mistake in coming here, and in killing her."

Jealousy caused her green eyes to narrow and, arms crossing, her lips pursed as she looked back at the vampire-witch still half within the water then back at him. "Who is she?"

A tight smirk appeared on his lips. "As I recall, you were the one to leave me, sweetheart. That leaves you in no place to be feeling jealous."

The remorse he saw confused him for a split second before it turned to suspicion. But he made no move to stop her as she moved closer. "I didn't want to, I couldn't help-"

He chuckled scathingly, raising an eyebrow. "You couldn't help it? You couldn't help but see me as a cruel, wretched thing, pathetic, really, and unworthy of anyone's love… let alone yours?" As he repeated her words back to her in a dead whisper, he watched her eyes prick with tears, the trembling of her bottom lip, and refused to see himself in her eyes, the echo of his own hurt behind the mask of anger and cruel amusement.

"I was force-"

As she moved forward in desperation, he caught the hands that rose to frame his face, shoving her back against the tree, fury ignited. He roared, "Do not lie to me, Aurora! What are you doing here?"

She used their almost-matched strength to pull him closer as she tugged her arms-and him-into her body, her eyes fluttering as she felt the length of his torso pressed against hers. Looking into his eyes, she smiled gently.

"You want to know why I have come? Because after a thousand years of trying to erase your touch, your smell, the taste of your lips... I'm here for you…"

Her voice was only a whisper as she leaned in. They were so close now, she could taste him, but he wouldn't look at her. She needed him to look at her. "Look me in the eye and tell me that you haven't thought about what we had every day for the last thousand years."

Klaus couldn't help himself. The memories of their time together overpowered the painful memory of the last time he'd seen her and he looked into her eyes, the both of them so close… both wanting…

They were so distracted by one another, neither of them were prepared for the moment that Belle rose from the water with a strangled gasp, coughing up the water that had entered her lungs as she got her bearings. Seeing the woman who'd killed her, she didn't even see her brother standing there as she snarled, reaching for her talisman, gripping it as she reached a hand up, curling it into a fist.

But it was in the first cry of pain that she saw it-the reason that she could not kill this woman who had so brutally attacked her. The short spark of panic and pain in Klaus's eyes.

He cares for 'er.

Plans changed, she flashed behind her instead, pressing her fingers to Aurora de Martel's forehead and watching her fall to the forest floor, unconscious.

"That should keep 'er down for a little while. I will need to pick something up to make the spell more permanent-"

Forcing himself from his thoughts, he summoned that protective anger as he turned the full weight of his stare upon her, tone cold and accusatory. "I think you've done more than enough collecting for the day, love. Perhaps you could instead explain why you deliberately went behind my back and left our home when I told you-"

Blinking, there was a flash of guilt that Klaus, in his ire-and fear-only latched onto. A cruel smirk appeared on his lips.

"Ah, so it's now after you've died that you see the error of your ways. Bloody typical," he growled, picking Aurora up roughly and beginning to walk away.

She watched him go with an air of incredulity before she flashed to pick up her basket of ingredients and careened after him, anger awakened by the abrupt change in his behaviour. Still, she said nothing, knowing better than to do so. That was until he said:

"You need to leave."

She jerked back. "Wat?"

His jaw locked, eyes flashing, and he didn't even look at her. "You heard me."

Flashing in front of him, halting them both, she poked him in the chest. "You did not just say that after one mistake-"

"A mistake that nearly cost you your life. Your pigheaded refusal-"

"Pigheaded?"

He stepped closer, nostrils flared, voice grave. "Yes, love, your pigheaded refusal to take direct orders for your own bloody safety is infuriating and it makes you a liability that I do not need. Mikael is surely on his way to Mystic Falls, and will arrive here in either the next day or the next hour. I need to be able to trust you and obviously I can't do that with the simplest thing."

He walked past her again but she chased after him.

"Oh, oui? You cannot trust me? I am ze only one 'oo 'as stayed by your side and zat iz after you daggered my mate, Niklaus!"

"Precisely, your mate, Kol—I'd have thought you would learn not to disobey me."

This only ignited an old fight and she screeched in rage. "So I am to come at your every beck an' call, oui? I am not allowed to sink for myselv? To weesh to be free of you and your machinations, Klaus? I am just anozzer of your minions? But of course, you only killed my mate because it iz such a crime, to want to be free to do as we like!"

Spinning at that, Belle was forced to stop in her tracks as Klaus stepped right up to her and growled:

"Apparently you do not understand so let me make this perfectly clear to you. We are trying to keep ourselves hidden from a man that would see any ally of mine-much less his own children-dead. That means we must live without certain freedoms until he is dealt with."

"I was only trying to get ze ingredients—"

"I don't care what you were trying to do! I tell you to do something and you do it!"

"Oooh," was the growl of rage she gave as she watched him walk away from her, anger rising with every step he took.

"You will go home and pack then leave. Do not tell me where you are going, and don't stay in one place too long. I'm not sending you on a bloody vacation, sweetheart."

"Oooooh! You-" she cut herself off with a snarl. "I was trying to do somesing to ease your mind, to 'elp you, you mizerabol, fucking… enfoiré!" she growled at him.

Stopping where he was, his eyes flashed at that particular insult. The irony of it was not lost on him, the fact that Belle now used the same insult that she had when he'd daggered Kol signifying just how far they'd come in their relationship. He didn't want to send her away, but he had to. And the pain of hearing that word was enough fuel to get him to say what he had to next, a snarl leaving him before, in that cold, detached, domineering tone of his, as he turned to her and he spoke the words that he knew would infuriate her enough to get the desired effect.

"I assure you, love, my french isn't the slightest bit rusty and I spent far more than enough time in New Orleans to pick up on the nuances of your particular dialect. Perhaps I am the bastard you say I am, but the fact remains that I have told you that you need to leave and that is what you are going to do. Go home, pack your bags, and leave. I have no use for you here anymore."

It was the spark of hurt at that last line that gave him pause but she was not around to witness it, flashing off barely a second later with a hitch of breath. Klaus's eyes closed as he held the woman who had just killed his youngest brother's mate closer to his body. He knew that part of his anger was because Belle had seen through his walls and seen the part of him that did not wish to hurt a woman some part of himself still loved, despite all that she had said to him. It was not anger at her, but anger at himself-for being weak. He could hear Mikael's chastisement, his scoff at his weakness, at his need for love even from those who'd made it clear they saw him as nothing…

But Belle was not one of those people and regret rose, his shoulders sagging and face falling with defeat. He was still just as resolute that she would have to leave, but he did not want it to be on such terms. Sighing, he looked heavenward before flashing off after his sister, eyes tight when he got close enough to the mansion to hear the angry sounds of her actions as she did indeed pack, the mutterings under her breath as she flashed around her bedroom to collect things. Placing Aurora down in front of the fireplace, he made his way upstairs to Belle's bedroom, walking more slowly now-prolonging the coming discussion though resigned to its inevitability all the same.

"I 'ave dohne ze spell…"

His eyes closed in another wave of guilt as she refused to face him, tone clipped and cold, accent still thick in the face of her rightful ire. She had found the spell. That was why she was out there. She wasn't merely stubbornly going about restocking for general spells. No, she had found the spell that would give the answer they needed, a spell that he had not even asked her to do, and he only felt worse as he recalled her furious admission: "I was only trying to do somesing to ease your mind."

She was out there, and nearly died, for him.

Immediately on the tip of his tongue was the fact that she could have called him, could have told him what she needed, but… he didn't speak, the next words she spoke striking him silent with a nauseating wave of fear.

"'e is en route to Mystic Falls. 'e was stationahry wen I waz doing ze spell, but no longer in Georgia. I wou' say 'e shou' reach Mystic Falls in a day, per'aps two, if 'e continues 'is jerney at 'is current rate."

Silence reigned. Neither of them spoke, Belle too furious to do so and Klaus not knowing what to say. Finally, he settled on a much quieter repeat of what he'd said near the falls.

"I told you not to leave the house."

Her jaw locked audibly at that but a glance over her shoulder at him told her that he was not here to fight and honestly she was relieved by that. Sighing as she abandoned packing, she turned toward him. "And you were right to. I see that now. And I won't do it again…" She couldn't even help the slightly begging tone. She did not want to go, and not just because of Niklaus and the fight that he would now have to face alone…

She didn't want to be any more separated from her mate than she already was. Not again.

Klaus could see that and he hated to do it, but…

"I am not completely defenceless, Niklaus…"

His eyes flashed up to hers as he raised a challenging eyebrow.

"You were against Aurora. You will be against Mikael."

Stubborn, her chin lifted, as she crossed her arms under her breasts. "You cannot know that. I was caught of guard; I will not be wiss 'im."

"And you cannot know that. Mikael is unlike-"

"I remember."

"And you were nearly killed then. Permanently. So what did I do?"

She rolled her eyes, coming around slowly. "You sent me away… I wandered alohne-away from my mate, detached from everysing zat would remind me of 'im-for sirty years." She swallowed, looking at him. "I cannot do it again."

He gave a small smile. "It will not be as long, love… that, I swear to you. But it is necessary. It isn't only Mikael who is after your head. Our enemies increase in number by the day, Aurora's sudden reappearance only proves that. I need you safe or my brother will kill me… and I rather enjoy living."

Her lips twitched ruefully though she cursed them for doing so.

"But you made sure that I could not die, Niklaus… there is no reason-"

"Belle… please…"

The tone of his voice caused her to stop and look at him, seriously look at him. He met her gaze for a moment before his jaw locked and he looked away. "Mikael will have a witch with him, at least one."

"Zen you should 'ave one as well…"

His hand rose, and the words died on her lips as she frowned, not understanding, arms crossed under her chest. "I know that you cannot die, of course I do-as you say, I was the one to make sure of it. It is not because I think you weak…" He took a breath. "I cannot have distractions, love, and I know that Kol wouldn't want you so close to danger again. More than that, the magic that made you indestructible could easily be found out and reversed."

She still had some protest left in her-she would be careful, she would make sure no one knew-

"If you were anyone else…"

That line-the same line he'd said a hundred years ago when he'd stopped himself from ending her life the first time-made her look at him, to see the apology and the resolve all in one. She knew then that she truly had no choice and she sighed, nodding.

"D'accord…"

The hybrid's eyes closed briefly in relief that she had finally given up the fight and he smiled at her as he opened them again, seemingly thoughtful for a moment before he spoke again, shocking her.

"Find Stefan and stay together… I will call you the moment it is safe for the two of you to return."

A moment of silent communication passed through them, her shock and guilt met with Klaus's acceptance as Belle realised that he knew what Stefan was to Rebekah, and had perhaps always known. Was that why he had sent her after him, so that she would see and remove the spell that kept him enchanted with the doppelganger?

It shocked the last bit of fight out of her and she swallowed before giving a small smile, turning and packing the last few things in silence as he waited by the door. Turning, she made her way toward him in powerful strides only hesitating when she stopped in front of him, their gazes connecting for a few moments before she leaned forward and kissed both of his cheeks, not meeting his gaze as she looked over his shoulder when she spoke.

"I will do the spell and go. We will see eash ozzer again, Niklaus."

With a nod, Klaus watched her walk down the hall before making his way to his studio, listening as she set up and then chanted the spell that would keep Aurora unconscious. He listened to her leave, stretching his hearing as far as it would go until she was truly gone and his eyes closed, the façade dropping now he was left utterly alone. He ignored the easels and canvases-both filled and empty-around him as he burned with the emotions within him, all fighting for dominance.

Until he chose one and set the once-full bottle of bourbon down on the table as he flashed to Aurora's body, looking down at her. She was still just as beautiful as she had been when they'd been together. He wasn't sure if it was merely those memories that kept him from killing her by the falls but, even now, he could barely touch her. It angered him. How could one woman ruin him so? She had essentially carved his heart out of his chest and then laughed in his face, and yet here he was, looking down upon the woman who had done so with such conflicting emotion…

"I turned from you because I do not love you."

"I thought I did, but it's as if I see you clearly for the first time, and I find you a cruel, wretched thing, pathetic, really, and unworthy of anyone's love, let alone mine."

"After all, your own mother turned against you. If she who gave you life could come to loathe you and then be snuffed out by your own hand, then what hope is there for you?"

His jaw locked, face stoning as he rejected it, rejected the affection and love that lingered within.

"You're breaking my heart…"

Swallowing, he grasped her body and flashed down into the basement. He didn't even care for ceremony, merely dropping her there to deal with later, needing her out of sight and out of mind as she had been the past one thousand years. He flashed back into his studio and slashed a blank canvas with black and bleeding red, his thoughts slowly moving away from her and focusing upon nothing but the fight to come, possessed by his need to show one half of the creators of everything he had become just how much he had exceeded their expectations and proved them wrong.

He would fight for the peace that he and his family deserved at long last and he would win.

So... thoughts? What do we think of Aurora? Did I write her well? How about the rest of what happened in this chapter?

What do you think we are going to see in the next one?

You probably don't know this, but in case you prefer to read my stories on ARCHIVE OF OUR OWN, I have started posting there under the same penname. You can also get any sneak peeks and updates etc. on how stories are going between uploads in my facebook group - ncbexie25 Fanfics. I would love to see you there!

Thank you so much for everyone's support and love. It has been a very rough year filled with ups and downs, but you guys have helped me so much.

I will hopefully see you soon... please give me all of your thoughts in the form of a review. :)

Until next time,

ncbexie25